Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Stones, eggs, and slurs hurled at visitors to Friday’s HMB High game
Friday’s football game at Half Moon Bay High versus Sequoia High School was marked by a number of ugly incidents that led to police escorting the beleaguered visitors out of the school as a group, reports the Daily Journal.
Sequoia High School left Half Moon Bay victorious Friday night, beating the Cougars 20-17. But the victory wasn’t so sweet with accusations of Cougar players using racial and homophobic slurs at Sequoia players; four naked youth storming the field; and eggs thrown at Cherokee cheerleaders and fans. Police had to escort Sequoia parents, players and fans from the game.
Sequoia parents and officials were not amused and there is some discussion of asking that the remaining game to be cancelled and for the two schools not to play each other again.
...
Near the end of game, after police officers walked away from the visitors side, eggs were thrown from outside the stadium at Sequoia cheerleaders and fans in the final minutes of the game, said one Sequoia parent who preferred not to be named. Parents and cheerleaders were hit with eggs.
...
Sequoia Teacher Ron Gordon attended his son’s water polo game earlier this year to hear vulgar words and homophobic phrases used by Half Moon Bay students and players. The coach dealt with the situation, [Half Moon Bay High athletic director Matt] Ballard said.
A Sequoia coach claims in the story that rocks were thrown on the Sequoia team’s bus once the team was aboard.
Comments
"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
That is the role of the press, to make that sound heard!
Events Timeline:
Friday, 2Nov07 - 'Event' Occurred
? - Daily Journal story: "Racial slurs spark fury"
Tuesday, 6Nov07
10:55 - HMB Review - Clay Lambert's Blog: "High school must deal with miscreants now"
16:30 - Coastsider - Front Page
- " Stones, eggs, and slurs hurled at visitors to Friday’s HMB High game"
Wednesday, 6Nov07
1629 - HMB Review - "Half Moon Bay High will apologize for trouble at game" [They Have NOT Done Anything Yet!]
1700 - HMB Review - Clay Lambert's Blog "Cougars should be commended for quick response" [They Have NOT Done Anything Yet!]
Just when I thought that Clay Lambert had found his journalistic spine, he showed that his cord had been yanked yet again.
Just how is a statement from CUSD that they may do something is a "quick response" - FIVE days after the event. Actually having done something might be nice!
Still nothing on CUSD web site!
Let me be clear:
A verbal apology was late by noon last Saturday from: the coach, athletic director, High School Principal, District and School Board President to their counterparts at the other school.
A written apology was late by last Monday noon.
A school wide assembly on the incident was late by the close of school last Monday with announcement of any identified students were suspended and the cancellation of the season.
The cancellation is also for the protection of our students who will probably encounter a hostile environment at an away game.
Well, there is a CUSD Board Meeting Thursday Night, Agenda for November 8th 7:00 p.m. public session: 498 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA
where you can ask the School Board WHAT has been done or WHY NOT.
Then watch a re-enactment of the role of the Governor performing "The Sidestep" from "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas". You can sing along.
Maybe the High School could perform the play next spring.
Ken Johnson
P.S. If you go to the School Board Meeting, you might ask just how the ‘New’ "Plan for Student Achievement for Cunha Intermediate School " and the ‘New’ "Plan for Student Achievement for Hatch Elementary School" is different from the last five unsuccessful ones! "We are going to make the objectives THIS year" is not really a plan.
Isn't it time for "Plan B"?
The article posted on this website is based on hearsay. All the comments afterwards, besides being another excuse to attack the school district by some, are also based on hearsay.
Have any of you actually talked to anyone, I mean ANYONE, who was at the game?
I am not excusing the egg throwing, something that actually occurred. I have talked to my son about the incident and am having a hard time getting him to understand it was not OK to throw eggs. He did not throw the eggs, but unlike any of YOU he was actually at the game.
First, the Sequoia team had a police escort after the game. Rocks where not thrown at the bus.
I was told the football players did not call the other team names. Now I never believe everything my teenager tells me, however, he did say that the football team had nothing to do with what was occurring. And there may have been name calling from the other team or fans anyway (oh my, but lets pretend it’s all the HMB kids, right!)
There was a chant of F### Sequoia and Officer L did arrest at least one student for that. I believe he was let go, however, the police were there AND they were involved!
And all this talk about the Water Polo game from the fall! Why don't you actually find out what happened from someone who was actually there instead of more hearsay?
It is wrong to use racial slurs. But having subbed at both high schools I have heared what the kids call each other as friends, and it isn’t what we would call acceptable all the time.
There were things that occurred at the game which were wrong, but I believe that the incidents have been blown out of proportion and people have exaggerated, if not simply lied. This incident has made the local news and painted Half Moon Bay in a very bad light. And, instead of delving deeper and finding out what really happened, people make nasty comments attacking the school and the district.
Haven’t you ever heard the phrase, “Don’t believe everything you hear,” or, “Question everything?”
I'm disturbed by the attitude of apparently adult HMB High School fans on the Review's website:
http://talkabout.hmbreview.com/topic.php?t=878&c=11&d;=
Many of the comments excuse the behavior, saying it's the result of mistreatment by other teams. And some bad calls by a water polo ref.
One person describing himself as an HMB alumnus says, "I never knew what a "cracker" was until I played against Jefferson High School as a freshman and I had to be told that it was a racial slur against white people. Of course, nothing was done about it, but heaven forbid I would have retaliated by calling him the infamous "n" word." Heaven forbid, indeed.
Judgment must be withheld until the facts have been determined. But I can't believe it's not clear to some HMB High adult fans that some behavior cannot be excused. And I'm not talking about streaking. Until HMB High's adult fans change their attitude, the kids will not change their behavior.